Refrigerator.



H. 4. SULLIVAN. REFRIGERATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1898.) (No Model.)

TNE scams PETERS co. nso'rouma, WASHINGTON 0 c.

Patented June 26, I900.

HUGH JAMES sULLIvANQoE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

REFRIG EaaTo ar.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 65 2,408, dated June 26,1900. Application filed April 18, 1898. Serial No. 677,966. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, HUGH JAMES SULLIVAN, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Refrigerators, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in refrigerators. The improvedform adopted by me is more especially intended, although notnecessarily, for use by camping parties,- it being of such compact form'and convenient arrangement as to be readily transported from one placeto another.

The primary object is to provide a construction in which the maximumcooling and refrigerating effects are produced and also to provide aconvenient means for supporting the ice or refrigerant, all as willherein: after more fully appear.

Vith the above ends and other incidental objects in View the inventionconsists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinaftermore fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of myimproved refrigerator with the door thrown open to disclose the interiorarrangement. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the ice-receptacle. Fig. 3 is aplan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of one of thesupporting-trays. Fig. 5Zis a fragmentary detail view of theice-receptacle, showing the means for connecting the wire screen andFig. 6 is a tray-supporting device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 6 indicates therefrigerator-casing of any desirable form, preferably of rectangularshape. Secured to the outer faces of the sides of the casing aredrop-handles 8 8 for convenience in carrying the refrigerator. Forsupporting the trays in the refrigerator-chamber and so as to beconveniently removable for cleaning I preferably employ tray-supportingdevices consisting of sheet-metal plates 9 9, each having a series oftransversely-disposed ledges there on. These plates 9 are severally hungon a cleat 9, aifixed to the inner surface of the wall of, therefrigerator, which cleat enters the recess of a ledge in the plate. Theopen front of the casing isadapted to be closed by means of a hingeddoor 10. Pivoted to the top and bottom edges of the door, respectively,are .hasps 11 11, which are adapted to pass over staples 12 12,respectively secured to the top and bottom of the casing, being securedby means of a pin, button, forelock, orpadlock. The free edge of thedoor has also pivoted thereto a hasp 13, which is adapted, when the dooris closed, to be passed over a' staple 14, extending out from the sidepiece of the casing.

The ice-receptacle consists of a lower. pan portion 15,-having solidbottom and walls, and an upper screen portion 16, said screen beingformed, preferably, by a series of intersecting and interwoven wires.The lower ends of the wires are secured to the upper edge of the panportion 15 of the ice-receptaclein a peculiar manner,as shown mostclearly in Fig. 5. This consists in bending the upper edges of the wallsof the lower section 15 first downwardly adjacent to the inner surfaceof the section and thence upwardly,forming a channel 17,"in which theends of the wires'are' placed. 1 The sides of theochannel are pressedagainst the lower ends of the wires in order to secure them rigidly,and, if desired, solder may be applied thereto for the purpose offorming a still more secure connection. The upper ends of the wires arealso provided with a border 18, composed of a strip of metal, which isfirst folded upwardly and thence downwardly for a short distance to forma channel 19 in which to receive the upper ends of the wires. 'The sidesof this channel are also pressed tightly against the wires and soldermay likewise be applied thereto. By providing the double bond to theupper edge of the lower portion 15 of the ice-receptacle and also byproviding a bend to the border 18 the upper edge of the portion 15presentsarounded contour and likewise the lower exposed edge of theborder 18, whereby sharp exposed edges are avoided. The ends of thelower portion 15 of the ice-receptacle are provided with projecting lugs20, which are adapted to rest on ledges of the supporting devices 9,preferably near the top of the refrigerator-chamber.

Adapted to rest on the bottom of the icereceptacle is a removableice-supporting tray 21, which consists of a dishing flooring providedwith a central opening 22-. This dishing flooring converges from allfour sides downwardly to the central opening. The edges of this flooringare bent downwardly, forming a rectangular support, which rests on thebottom of the pan portion 15 of the icereceptacle.

The several trays employed in connection with this form of refrigeratorand which are adapted to be supported on the ledges, advisably below theice-receptacle, are of the peculiar form shown most clearly in Fig. 4.Each of these trays is formed of a series of intersecting and interwovenwires 23. The ends of the longitudinal wires are connected toborder-strips 24 24, said border-strips being bent into the form ofchannels, into which the ends of the Wires are passed. The extremitiesof these channel-formed borderstrips are then bent upwardly at rightangles, as indicated at 25. The ends of the transverse wires also passinto the channels of folded border-strips 26 26. These borderstrips,together with the ends of the transverse wires secured in the channelsthereof, are bent up at right angles, forming front and rearupwardly-proj ectin g margins, which strengthen the construction andserve to prevent articles on the tray from working ofif at the front andrear of said trays. The extremities of these border-strips 26 extendinto the upwardlybent ends 25 of the borderstrips, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the use of my invention the ice-supporting tray is placed removablyon the bottom of the ice-receptacle, as shown in Fig. 2, and a cake ofice is put into the receptacle andon the tray 21. As the ice melts thewater produced runs to and through the opening 22, owing to theinclination of the dishing tray 21, and collects in the pan portion 15of the ice-receptacle. Owing to the fact that the upper portion of theice-receptacle is composed of wire screen, the cold air produced by themelting of the ice in the receptacle is free to pass into the chamber ofthe refrigerator and to descend through the series of open trays below.

As stated at the outset, this form of refrigerator is more particularlyintended for use by camping and fishing parties, owing to the removableconstruction of its parts, adapting it to be readily and thoroughlycleaned and compactly and securely packed and the facility with whichthe refrigerator can be transported. The trays located below theice-receptacle will be found particularly convenient for holding fishand keeping them fresh until ready for shipment or the return of thecamping party.

What I claim as my invention is- The combination, with arefrigerator-case or analogous device, cleats secured to opposite sidesof said case, andtray-supporting devices consisting of sheet-metalplates, each formed with a series of bends forming transverse ledges onone side of the plate for supporting the trays, and forming transversegrooves or recesses on the opposite side thereof, which grooves orrecesses are made to engage the cleats, whereby said cleats firmlysupport the plates, but permit said plates to be removed therefrom bybeing slid outwardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I-IUGI-I JAMES SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

A. L. MORSELL, ANNA V. FAUsrr.

